Welcome to my Archtop Guitar Project Blog

The Archtop, or "Jazz Box", is a unique style of guitar. It has a complex design, and a sound that one might say can only come from such a design. Having never built a guitar of any kind before (unless you consider a ukulele to be a guitar) I have decided to jump right in up to the neck and start with the archtop. When I tell this to people, the normal response is something like, "have you ever built a guitar before?" or "so, you have a pretty good idea how to do this, right?". My usual reply is, "nope". I do, however, make a point to assure them that I have built many kinds of things, using many different materials, and I consider all constructions to have a logical and understandable process.

So, if you're interested in "newbe" projects like this, then grab a fresh cup of coffee or tea and follow along. The earliest post shows the design I'm going for.

**UPDATE TO INTRODUCTORY TEXT** You will see as the posts progress from earliest to newest that a few modifications and compromises have been made. As with all learning experiences, this project has allowed me to work out any problems with a design that have not been foreseen on paper. I also welcome any input from readers/followers who have some experience in either building or playing guitars that will point out potential problems.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

And Then They Both Sighed, Side By Side

The title of this entry is a reference to the Marx Brothers, in case you were wondering where my head is.

Here begins the making of the sides. As mentioned earlier, I have maple veneer to laminate the sides with. I intend to use three layers. The veneer is 1/42" thick. That's less than a millimetre thick! It's so thin I don't need to steam it before bending it.

 I'm starting with sheets of maple that are about 30" long by 4 5/8" wide. Earlier on I mentioned I was going to make the sides 1 1/2" wide, but I've decided I want more interior volume, particularly since the top and back are relatively shallow compared to many archtops. I'm going with 2 1/4" wide sides. This will make the total depth of the guitar about 3 1/4"; deeper than I had originally dreamed it to be, but still not overly so.

I simply used a T Square as a guide and made my cuts with a new X-acto blade. You're not being stared at by an evil eye in this photo, it's just the ceiling fan light reflecting on the T Square.

OK, so now they are cut. I have enough to do three layers on each side, as well as on the cutaway and the upper bout face. This is a figured maple, with a very nice wavy sheen, which you might just make out in the pictures if you have a good monitor.




Next will come the glue up, and pressing the strips in place on the frame.
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